5 Safest Countries to Visit This Year
As you’re planning your next vacation, considering safety is a must.
With the global landscape constantly changing, it’s important to ensure the safety of the country you’re visiting. Several countries that were once famous, for instance, now pose risks to travelers.
Many European countries, for instance, that were long among the safest in the world have now seen an influx of who have changed their safety ratings.
For this reason, we’ve put together five of the safest countries to visit this year. As you will notice, many come from Europe, but we’ve included safe travel options from North America and Asia as well. Keep these countries in mind as you plan your family’s next vacation.
- Finland
Finland tops the list of the world’s safest countries nearly every year.
This small Scandinavian country has nearly no crime to speak of, with violent actions rarely being committed. For tourists, Finland is perhaps the safest country in the world.
It’s cold climate and small size, however, might make it unsuitable for those who are looking for more high-paced fun. Still, Finland has much to offer for nearly every traveler, so be sure to keep it in mind — especially if safety is your priority.
2. Iceland
When Finland isn’t topping the list of the world’s safest countries, Iceland usually is.
Travelers to Iceland can be sure that their chances of being the victim of a violent crime are statistically insignificant. In fact, violent crime in Iceland is so low that it’s caused researchers to examine just why it is as safe as it is.
While the jury may still be out on their answer, we have all the information we need to know.
Iceland has only 1.8 murders per 100,000 people, with only .3% of the population abusing drugs. These mind-boggling statistics are far below global averages.
3. Norway
Surprisingly, Norway’s homicide rate is even lower — at just .56 per 100,000. This is among the lowest homicide rates in the world.
This comes as a surprise to some, as Norway used to rank as one of Europe’s less-safe countries. Over the past decade, however, they’ve seen a steady decline in crime, and now they rank as among the top safest cities in the world.
This incredible transformation has made it one of our safest countries to visit this year.
4. Canada
Though there are several other European countries that could have gone on this list, we decided to give it a bit more variety. To do so, we chose countries from both North America and East Asia to add to our list.
Those looking for safe travels in North America should schedule their next visit to Canada. Canada has a much lower crime rate than their neighbors to the South — especially in terms of gun violence.
And while Canada may not be the US, it does feature several popular tourist attractions and monuments of its own. From sightseeing spots with vantages of the Northern Lights to sprawling metropolises, Canada has something to offer for everyone.
5. Japan
Though Japan, Korea, and China all boast superior safety ratings, we selected Japan for our list because it narrowly edges out its competitors. It’s possible that Japan offers the best travel value of any country on our list. With one of the world’s busiest cities in Tokyo, Japan offers an incredibly-low crime rate for its size and population.
Tourists in Japan rarely have to fear for their safety, and they can enjoy both historical and modern attractions.
For this reason, it’s become one of the safest countries in the world to visit this year.
